At dusk, sunlight filtered through the stained glass windows on the second floor of the Golden Iris Hotel, casting colorful patterns onto the tables covered in pristine white cloth.
The air was filled with the scent of freshly baked pastries, rich coffee, and a faint trace of expensive spices.
[Shadowfang Warlord]tapped his fingers on the hilts of his Twin Blades at his waist, leaning idly against a pillar in the hotel lobby, clearly bored.
He had just completed a chain quest at the Starlink Tower, earning a considerable amount of experience points and gold coins.
Now, he was debating whether to try his luck at the blacksmith’s, see if any new blueprints for high-quality weapons had refreshed, or to head straight out of the city to gather materials for the next stage of equipment upgrades.
For a pure combat player like him, anything unrelated to battle in felt unnecessary and tedious.
Especially places like the Golden Iris Hotel, designed for the luxurious indulgence of nobles and wealthy merchants.
In his eyes, spending a few—or even dozens—of gold coins, enough to buy a set of high-grade recovery potions, just to eat food simulated by data, was an incomprehensible waste.
Shouldn’t the core of the game be about growing stronger, fighting, exploring the unknown, and challenging more powerful enemies?
He snorted softly, about to turn and leave, when the corner of his eye accidentally caught sight of a familiar figure by the second-floor window.
His movement froze instantly.
Faru Xiel.
Her Highness the God’s Favored sat alone at the most inconspicuous two-person table in the corner.
Over her usual leather armor, she wore an unremarkable pale gray linen cloak.
The hood covered her iconic light blue hair, making her less conspicuous.
She had her head slightly bowed, and was tasting the ice dessert on the plate before her with a small silver spoon, taking tiny bites.
It was the Golden Iris’s signature “Snow-topped First Frost” ice cream, made by drizzling elven blossom honey from Southwind Valley over fine ice crystals, then garnished with a few freshly picked, dew-laden Red Berries.
The layer of frost that usually kept others at bay on her face seemed to melt slightly under the afternoon sun.
Her lips, always tightly pressed, relaxed a little.
Her focused expression made her look less like a battle-hardened commander and more like an ordinary girl enjoying a rare holiday.
[Shadowfang Warlord]raised an eyebrow.
The scene was so out of place, yet strangely captivating.
His first thought was—Is this a hidden quest trigger point? Or some kind of special event to increase favorability?
The difficulty of pursuing this God’s Favored was marked as hell level on the official forum.
Any possible opportunity shouldn’t be missed.
Whatever scorn he had in his heart for “wasting time” evaporated instantly.
—
When [Shadowfang Warlord]sat down across from her in the velvet chair without hesitation, Faru Xiel finally looked up, belatedly noticing him.
Her hand holding the silver spoon paused noticeably, and her posture straightened subconsciously.
“Sir [Shadowfang Warlord].”
She spoke, considering it a greeting.
Since the Sentinel Plan was released, [Shadowfang Warlord], as one of the highest-level players, had cooperated with Faru Xiel many times.
During the last site survey of the Gate of Dolos, when they were ambushed by Apostles, it was [Shadowfang Warlord] who threw a curved blade in time to save Faru Xiel from the grip of a griffin.
One of the few players still worthy of trust.
Faru Xiel thought to herself.
“Your Highness God’s Favored,”
[Shadowfang Warlord]grinned, carrying that laid-back manner unique to players.
“Didn’t expect to see you here. I thought someone as busy as you would be in the command center or on the way to the frontlines.”
“Even I need to recharge now and then.”
Faru Xiel’s reply was flawless.
She put a small piece of ice dessert in her mouth.
The cool, sweet taste melted on her tongue, soothing her taut nerves.
She said nothing more, nor did she seem inclined to continue the conversation.
She simply continued tasting her dessert quietly, letting the atmosphere of solitude settle back around her.
Silence spread between them.
The lute melody from a dwarf musician filled the quiet.
[Shadowfang Warlord]wasn’t bothered by her coldness.
He looked around at the elegantly dressed nobles chatting and laughing, discussing the latest plays, a poet’s new work, or the upcoming hunting season, as if the fires of war in the Forbidden Swamp were worlds away.
“This stuff any good?”
He asked casually.
“Acceptable.”
Faru Xiel responded blandly.
“I heard the signature dish here is ‘Grilled Wyvern Loin.’ Supposedly, it’s incredible.”
[Shadowfang Warlord]changed the subject, remembering [Rabbit]praising it endlessly before.
At the mention, a subtle ripple passed through Faru Xiel’s eyes.
She recalled the woman as bright as fire.
“Yes, Ying Yue likes it a lot.”
Her voice unconsciously softened with the warmth that only appeared when speaking of friends.
“She said the chef here can make wyvern meat crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, and lock in all the juices—It’s the most authentic dish she’s ever had in Arslan.”
“Oh? Sounds really good.”
[Shadowfang Warlord]looked intrigued.
“I always thought wyverns were fierce monsters. Never expected them to end up on dinner plates here. The hotel’s supply seems ample too.”
“That’s because they have their own ranch.”
Faru Xiel set down her spoon, apparently finished eating.
She dabbed her mouth lightly with a napkin, her movements flawless.
“The third basement of the Golden Iris Hotel is a massive breeding space. They keep thousands of wyverns there.
From hatching to fattening, it’s all overseen by dedicated magicians and Beastmasters, ensuring the freshest ingredients are always available for the top-floor restaurant.”
Hearing this, [Shadowfang Warlord]’s smile faded.
He pictured the scene: beneath the most bustling district of the royal city, in a sunless abyss, monsters penned like livestock solely to satisfy the appetites of the upper class.
He’d seen frontline soldiers fight over a chunk of dried bread, and magical girls collapse from the lack of a healing potion.
The two images formed a sharp, bitter contrast in his mind.
“Truly… extravagant.”
He said quietly, no longer hiding his emotions.
Faru Xiel glanced at him, a fleeting trace of agreement in her icy blue eyes.
But she said nothing.
As God’s Favored, protector of the Kingdom of Arslan, she couldn’t and shouldn’t openly criticize the kingdom’s system.
But even her silence was a statement.
She knew better than anyone where this country’s sickness lay—the bloated nobles and decadent king gnawing away at its foundations.
She picked up the glass of water beside her, took a sip to moisten her throat, as if trying to swallow the heaviness that had risen in her chest.
She shifted the conversation to a more practical, colder topic.
“Extravagance is possible only when there’s enough wealth and power to sustain it.”
Her tone regained its usual calm and rationality.
“But it won’t last forever. The threat of monsters grows daily. Relying only on us and you outsiders bleeding on the front lines is far from enough. The kingdom needs a more efficient, stronger defense system.”
[Shadowfang Warlord]immediately caught the key point in her words.
“Defense system? You mean…”
“The kingdom recently reconvened the council. The Gate of Dolos project hasn’t been canceled despite the last incident.”
Faru Xiel looked straight at him, her gaze sharp.
She knew these outsiders were currently indispensable to the kingdom.
In fact, they were the only ones she could trust.
“The Holy Church also supports it. Rotten wood may hold high office, but when the fire reaches their own feet, even they have to change.”
Her words were as restrained as ever, but [Shadowfang Warlord]could hear the unwavering resolve in them.
This woman was struggling, in her own way, to push forward the necessary changes in a decaying kingdom.
“So, what’s the next move?”
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